Combination table



' 'Nov. 22, 1932.

J. STEIDL 1,888,478

COMBINATION TABLE Filed May 18, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR NOV. 22, 1932.

J. STEIDL COMBINATION TABLE Filed y 18, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1,0 for engagement with the .5 the table top and standard iscounter Patented Nov/22, 1932 UNITED STA JOSEPH STEIDLOF BRONX, NEW YORK COMBINATION TABLE v -App1ication filed May 18, 1931. Serial No. 538,224.

The objects of this invention are to provide a table construction, which may be readily converted for different purposes, for example, be transformed from a cofiee table to a dining table, or vice versa, be easily raised and lowered to different heights and which will be practical and desirable in all respects.

The foregoing and other desirable objects are attained by the novel features of construction, combinations and relations of parts hereinafter described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Ihe drawings show by way of illustration 7 one practical embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the structure may be modified and changed as regards this disclosure without departure from the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a partially broken and sectioned side elevation of a table embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a partial bottom plan and broken sectional view looking upward as on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is an 'enlarged broken and part sectional face viewillustrating the ratchet mechanism; Fig. 4: is a sectional detail as on line 4-4: of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a broken perspective and part sectional view of the ratchet construction; Fig. 6 is a broken detail of the spring'pawl construction; Fig. 7 is a broken perspective detail of the special holding pawl; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating thepawl as let into the ratchet to its full extent to lock the table at a desired height, this view vbeing taken as on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the pedestal of the table is telescopically adjustable by the provision of a hollow base portion 9, having suitable feet floor or supporting surface and a post or standard 11, slidinglyfengaged in the hollowbase and carrythe table top 12. The hollow base and the standard portion therein are shown as of rectangular cross-section and the fit is such that the standardwill slide vertically in the 'base, smoothly and easily, but without wobbling. v f

i "To enable easy'adjustment, the weightO of TES PATENT OFFlCE anced by a spring 13, located in the hollow base and operating against the closed lower end 14 of the hollow standard.

For securing the table in various positions of vertical adjustment,

a special pawl and ratchet connection between the standard and base is provided. The r atchet which is shown as formed in or carried by the side of the post or standard, consists in the illustration of a set of upwardly ing at the sides of the faced ratchet teeth 15 havsame abruptly shouldered seats 16 and the pawl is illustrated as carried by thebase and as consisting of a spring strip 17, having at its upper end a downwardlyfaced tooth or lug 18 forengagement with the upwardly facing ratchet teeth and locking lugs 19 at opposite sides of the pawl tooth holding seats 16.

For controlling the pawl, a stud 20 is shown to interlock with the projecting from the back of the pawl out through a guide 21,-said stud having a head 22, providing an operating handle and beneath that,,a rotatable button 23, having outlugs standing wings or 24, which, when the button is turned as in Fig. 8, will drop into notches 25 in the guide to let the pawl interlock with the seats 16 or, when the button is turned as in Fig. 4:. will engage the end of the guide 21-, to hold the tracted, with lugs 19 clear thus free to yield to a downward movement of the table top.

be clear from what has been said be entirely retracted from the pawl adjusting It will that the pawl can pawl partially re of recesses 16 and engagement with the ratchet by drawing outward on the handle disc 22 as shown in the broken lines in Fig.

standard carrying the under the lifting 8, whereupon the table top will rise force of the spring 13.

This upwardmovement may be readily controlled by pressure of one top, while the other hand is I the deslred height is withdrawn. When reached, thepawl may hand on the table holding the pawl be dropped back into interlocked engagement with the ratchet as in the solid lines, Fig. table top is locked aga up or down and the 8, at which time, the inst movement either turn button is. held against movement by the interlocking engagement of the webs or pins 24 in the notches 25.

A scale such as indicated at 26, in Fig. 1, may be provided on the standard or center le of the table to aid in securing the desired a justments of the table. Thus, this may be a scale laid off in inches, or it may have simple markings, registering with the base to indicate the proper heights for tea or coffee table, card table, dining table, or other desired uses.

Upon partially retracting and turning the button 23, to brin the lugs 24 over the end of guide 21, as in igs. 3 and at, the pawl will still hold the table down to the desired level but, with the locking lugs 19 freed of the locking recesses 16, it will yield outward under push of the inclined ratchet teeth when downward force is applied to the table top. Hence, in this condition of the parts, the table top may be forced down step by step, until the desired height is reached. After which, if desired, the button may be turned to interlock the parts at such heights as indicated in Fig. 8.

To further enable conversion of the table from one form of use to another, various styles and shapes of removable table tops may be provided. Thus by way of example in Figs. 1 and 2, an oval style of table top 27 is shown for direct engagement over the circular fixed table top 12.

The removable top is shown as releasably secured in position on the fixed table to by slidin bolts 28 on the underside of the fixed top a apted to engage with keepers 29, on the underside of the removable top and shown as of segmental form shaped to fit the edge of the fixed top. It will be clear from this illustration, that many different kinds of removable table tops may be combined with the fixed table top to render the device, with the vertical adjustment described, suitable for many different uses. Thus, the particular use of the table may determine both the height and the character of the table top at any given time. For} some purposes, the same table top may be used at a number of difierent levels, but for other purposes, it may become necessary to substitute different styles or shapes of table tops.

The invention it will be seen, is adapted to extension, as well as to solid top tables and in view of the many novel features and uses of the invention, it should be understood that the terms employed herein are used in a, descriptive rather than in a limiting sense, except for such limitations as may be required by the state of the prior art. In the case of extension tables or large top tables, it may be desirable to provide weights in the base of the table, substantially as indicated at 7 36 in Fig. 1, which weights may be of lead as s I set in seats provided for the purpose in the base of the table.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination table, comprising a vertically extensible pedestal, a table top carried thereby, spring means for extending the pedestal to lift the table top and ratchet means for restraining the extension movement of the pedestal, said ratchet means being yieldable to permit contracting adjustment of the pedestal.

2. A combination table, comprising a verticall extensible pedestal, a table top carried the y, spring means for extending the edestal to lift the table top, ratchet means or restraining the extension movement of the pedestal, said ratchet means being yieldable to permit contracting adjustment of the pedestal and controlling means for said ratchet mechanism operable to fix the ratchet against movement or to permit the ratcheting movement aforesaid.

3. A table comprising a hollow base, a post member vertically adjustable in said hollow base, upwardly faced ratchet teeth on said post member, spring means in the hollow base for lifting the post member, a table top carried by the post member, a downwardly faced pawl mounted on the hollow base member for cooperation with the upwardly faced ratchet teeth of the post member and means for controlling said pawl.

4. A table comprising a hollow base, a post member vertically adjustable in said hollow base, upwardly faced ratchet teeth on said post member, spring means in the hollow base for lifting the post member, a table top carried by the post member, a downwardly faced pawl mounted on the hollow base member for cooperation with the upwardly faced ratchet teeth of the post member, means for controllin said pawl, including a turn button opera le to partly release and hold the pawl in a partly retracted position, the post member having a locking seats and the pawl carrying a locking lug operable to interlockingly engage in one of said locking seats when the turn button is positioned to fully release the pawl.

5. A table comprising a hollow base, a post I member vertically adjustable in said hollow base, upwardly faced ratchet teeth on said post member, spring means in the hollow base for lifting the post member, ried by the post member, a downwardly faced pawl mounted on the hollow base member for cooperation with the upwardly faced ratchet teeth of the post member, means for controlling said pawl, including a turn button op-..

erable to partly release and hold the pawl in a partly retracted position, the post member having locking seats and the pawl carrying a locking lug operable to interlockingly ena table top cargage in one of said locking seats when the turn button is positioned to fully release the securing the turn button in the position W1 the parts interlocked as described.

6. A table of the character disclosed, comprising a hollow base, a table top having a pedestal portion slidingly received in the hollow base, means for resiliently supporting the sliding pedestal portion in the hollow ase,

pawl and ratchet mechanism for holding the pedestal portion down to diiferent levels in the hollow base and control means for variously securing said pawl and ratchet mechanism.

7. A combination table comprising a table 1 top, a vertically extensible pedestal for said table top, spring means for extending the pedestal to lift the table top, a spring ratchet in the extensible pedestal for holding the table top down against the extending action of the spring and automatically yieldable to downward pressure on the table top to permit the table top to be lowered by downward pressure on the same and means for locking the pawl against such yielding action and for securing the same in position positively supporting the table top at the desired elevation.

8. In combination, a table having an extensible pedestal made up of relatively telescopic members, one of said members having pawl and interlocking means for releasably Gil - ratchet teeth and abruptly shouldered locking shoulders adjoining the same, a spring pawl carried by the other member for cooperation with the ratchet teeth and a locking lug for positive interlocking engagement with the locking shoulders aforesaid, said pawl having a ratcheting position in which the pawl will yield to the ratchet teeth and permit relative movement of the two members and a securing position in which the locking lug will interlock with the shoulders and positively hold the two members against relative movement and means for controlling the pawl to enable the ratcheting action or to secure it in the positive holding relation aforesaid.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH STEIDL. 

